Latest news with #Loreal
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Video Game The Sims Inspired An $11 Million-Backed Startup
Think this is nice? It's a version of the weekly Under 30 newsletter and would be even better in your inbox. Ben Carr and Caoimhe Murphy You log onto an online lesson, ready to meet your new instructor. They greet you warmly, respond in real time, and gesture naturally as they speak. It takes a moment to realize: this isn't a person at all, it's AI. The lifelike avatars, complete with micro expressions and nuanced body language, were created by Anam, an AI startup launched by Under 30 Europe alum Caoimhe Murphy and her cofounder Ben Carr. The AI avatars have been sold to companies like L'Oreal and Henkel, which customize them to act as educators, customer service agents, or even therapists. One of the main use cases is as instructors in workforce training videos. For instance, executives at Henkel's haircare brand Schwarskopf found that their hairdressers were going to TikTok to learn best practices. 'They needed a training platform that was engaging and could be controlled,' Murphy said. 'That's where Anam came in.' While AI agents have been on the rise in the last year, the initial idea for Anam stemmed from Murphy's childhood obsession with The Sims, a video game where users customize digital characters. She officially founded the company in 2023 to bring her version of digital characters to life. Last week, Anam closed a $9 million seed round led by Redpoint Ventures, bringing their total funding to $11 million. The funding will go toward Anam's product engineering team and go-to-market strategy, as well as the company's expansion to the U.S. Murphy and Carr met while working together at an AI video startup Synthesia—which is currently valued at some $2 billion—where Murphy worked on the go-to-market strategy and Carr worked as a research engineer. The pair sought to design a personalized AI experience beyond the traditional chatbot or text to video interaction. While most AI avatar startups rely solely on mouth movements to replicate human interaction, Anam's technology renders every pixel of the human face to hold a natural conversation in real-time. The avatars blink, raise their eyebrows and move their shoulders with less than a second of reaction time. 'I've never written a line of code in my life which is very atypical for a generative AI founder,' Murphy said. 'But I am very commercial and I think that is how we have been able to build a business that is technical but still drives value.' Anam recently launched a feature called 'One Shot,' which creates an AI persona from only a picture that can hold real-time conversation and respond to prompts. However, this technology is currently a private tool to mitigate the ethical risks of misuse. 'It's incredible technology but also dangerous if found in the wrong hands,' Murphy said. 'Our enterprise customers are the only people that have access to it because we want to put up the right guardrails before it is open to the public.' Despite the growing AI market, Anam doesn't view other AI startups as their competition, but humans themselves. 'Our vision is to have AI personas that feel indistinguishable from real life,' Murphy said. 'We need to create personas that feel even more engaging and realistic [than human beings].' More next week, Alexandra, Alex and Zoya Jorge Richardson (right) and his cofounders. 'My vision was and still is to put free drinking water access on every street corner of every city around the world,' said under 30 alum Jorge Richardson, the cofounder and CEO of Hope Hydration. This week, they're taking one step closer. They closed a $20 million Series A, bringing their total funding to $26 million. But they're not just a water company. Instead, they fund the initiative on advertisements shown on the screens of their water filtration systems (which they set up at places like Cannes Lions and Coachella). Read on to find out how they're using ads to provide free and clean drinking water here. -Glioblastoma Research Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to funding brain cancer research founded by Under 30 Social Impact alum Amber Barbach, announced it awarded a $50,000 grant to Under 30 Science honoree Dr. Shane Shahrestani to launch Project Kenny—the first effort to develop a fully implantable, rechargeable device that delivers continuous brain cancer treatment without external hardware. Shahrestani, who earned his MD from USC and PhD in Medical Engineering from Caltech, previously cofounded StrokeDx, a startup creating portable imaging tools that rapidly identify stroke type. The new project is now underway at Cedars-Sinai. -Bilt Rewards, the credit card startup that lets users earn points on rent payments, this month announced $250 million in additional funding. The round was led by General Catalyst and GID and brought Bilt's valuation to $10.75 billion. According to billionaire founder and 30 Under 30 alum Ankur Jain, the startup is on track to surpass $1 billion in revenue by the first quarter of 2026. Bilt also announced a major shift in its operations, parting ways with Wells Fargo—its previous card issuer—and partnering with Cardless, the fintech behind credit cards for companies like Coinbase. -Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment alum Sydney Sweeney is adding another title to her resume (and one we, at Forbes, love most): Founder. The Euphoria star is reportedly set to launch a lingerie brand, backed by Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sánchez, and Coatue's Ben Schwerin. Sweeney is no stranger to the world of fashion, having served as an ambassador or campaign face for a range of fashion and beauty brands, including Tory Burch, Miu Miu and Guess. -While TikTok is flooded with videos claiming 'recession indicator' after 'recession indicator' (or economic changes like lipstick sales increasing as more consumers look for the little luxuries in a time of strife), one big luxury is also taking a swing: Golf! Not only did golf apparel brand Good Good Golf close a $45 million fund this spring, but golf shirts are apparently the current craze on Wall Street. You might notice more bankers, investors and the like showing up to their city jobs with logoed polos. It's allegedly because they're giving a "head nod' to the other men who are "part of [their] secret society.' (Business Insider) -Every wonder what it's like to be a summer intern in New York City? These students tell all: Some are splitting rent with roommates to make (often unpaid) life in one of the most expensive cities possible; others are super-commuting from Connecticut. There's an occasional outing to a TikTok hot spots for food, drinks and, of course, pilates. But mostly, they're 'trying to level up [their] game' and 'prove to [themselves] that [they] could maneuver the real world.' (The New York Times) -Big news in the newsletter business! 2017-founded newsletter platform Substack announced this week a $100 million Series C. The round was led by BOND and Peter Chernin's The Chernin Group (TCG), and big names participated, too: A16z, Klutch Sports' Rich Paul, and Skims CEO Jens Grede. The platform has more than 5 million paying subscribers (Variety)
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
The £8 Boots buy that's a dupe of posh £49 Kerastase – it makes your hair grow thick and my locks are proof it works
A HAIR-RAISING revelation is shaking up the beauty world and your bank balance will love it. TikTok hair expert Sophia, aka Sofia Hair Health, has revealed an £8.49 miracle product from Asos that could be giving posh £49 Kerastase Genesis a run for its money. 3 3 Sofia, a 24-year-old hair researcher from London, isn't just another influencer flogging the latest fad. She's lived it. At just 21, she started losing her hair, not just a few strands here and there, but actual bald patches that left her confidence in tatters. 'I'd wake up and see more scalp than hair,' she revealed. 'Then I spotted actual bald patches. I felt like I was disappearing.' Eventually diagnosed with androgenic alopecia, a genetic condition that causes thinning hair, usually in older women, Sofia was told there was no cure, only ongoing treatments that might help slow it down. But instead of giving up, she threw herself into studying hair biology and researching every treatment under the sun. Now, three years on, her glossy, thick locks are proof her efforts paid off. The hair expert has now put fans onto a humble bottle of L'Oréal Elvive Hair Growth Serum with Aminexil, currently available at Asos for just £8.49. Buy it here At Boots, this would set you back £17. She claims this product has "changed the game". Sophia said: 'It's got the same powerhouse ingredient as the £49 Kerastase Genesis, aminexil, which helps loosen collagen around the hair follicle and boosts growth.' How do get the perfect summer glow up with Aldi's latest middle aisle beauty buys including a £4.99 serum that'll revitalise dull skin AND smells amazing Both Elvive and Kerastase are owned by beauty giant L'Oréal, and according to Sofia, they share more than just a parent company. She points out that the product also has other key ingredients you'd find in Kerastase, like caffeine and niacinamide, which are both great for stimulating growth and improving scalp health. But here's where it gets really interesting, L'Oréal reportedly disclosed the concentration of aminexil in Elvive's serum as 1.5%. In contrast, they've kept quiet about the concentration in the pricier Kerastase Genesis. Sophia warns this is a red flag and that if Elvive is cheaper and tells you exactly what you're getting, then there's no need to fork out on a £49 "just for a fancy bottle". Since using the key ingredient in this product her hair has gone from 'lifeless and patchy' to 'thicker, stronger and full of volume. And judging by the hundreds of glowing comments on her videos, not to mention her jaw-dropping before and after pics, her followers are lapping it up. Sophia said "you're not missing out on results", just on "the expensive packaging.' It looks like this hair guru has found our new holy grail and it won't cost half your paycheck. It's important to remember the prices mentioned reflect the rates at the time of writing. As prices can change over time, we recommend double-checking before placing an order. Hair re-growth FAQs Anabel Kingsley, Consultant Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley spoke exclusively to Fabulous. How long does it take for hair to grow back? Hair grows, on average, half an inch a month. You cannot speed this up. Do rosemary oil and scalp massages work? Oils do not promote hair growth. In terms of rosemary oil, the current trend stems from one small study carried out on 50 men in 2015. No women were involved, and the study compared the effects of 2 per cent minoxidil to Rosemary oil. 2 per cent minoxidil doesn't do much for male pattern hair loss anyway, so the results were not very impressive. Oils do serve a purpose in conditioning hair treatments though. They help add shine and smooth the hair cuticle to lock-in moisture and improve combability. Scalp massages alone won't cure hair loss, but it can help relax you, aid in lymphatic drainage, exfoliate and help topicals penetrate. Are there any products or foods/vitamins you recommend someone using or eating to help with hair regrowth? To support healthy hair regrowth, if you are experiencing hair thinning we'd recommend our Density Preserving Scalp Drops clinically proven to help slow hair loss with continued daily use within three months. Telogen effluvium (hair shedding) due to nutritional deficiencies can often be simply treated with changes to your diet, and nutritional supplements such as our specially formulated Density Healthy Hair Complex and Density Amino Acid Booster. Iron and Ferritin (stored iron) in red meat, dried apricots and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin B12 in animal products and fortified plant-based foods. Protein from oily fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, tofu, nuts, chickpeas, and beans. However, there may be an underlying cause for their hair loss and rather than this being masked by using an off-the-shelf product, they should be encouraged to seek the advice of a specialist such as a Trichologist.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I've Tried Dozens of Mascaras, and the Best Ones Are All Drugstore Formulas Under $15
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." I'm not gonna lie, there are times where I love splurging on luxury beauty products like perfumes and skincare devices, but one product that does the job just as well (if not better) than its luxe rivals, is drugstore mascara. Some of my favorite $10 formulas have the same wands, innovations, and results as $40 tubes (and they're all available online so you don't need to shlep to your local CVS or Walgreens to search for it). Team Cosmo has been curating this list of the best drugstore mascaras for literal years, and we also consulted makeup artist Neil Scibelli for his insight and picks. Find all of the best drugstore mascaras, ahead, including favorites from Maybelline, L'Oreal, Covergirl, and more. Then, if you still can't choose (don't blame ya), read on for a guide to choosing the best mascara for mascara adds length and volume to every single lash, from the itsy-bitsy ones in the inner corner of the lid to the outer lashes that are prone to clumping. It makes my eyes look so open, since it also separates each lash and fans them out. Don't just take my word for it, though: Scibelli also raves about this mascara, calling it his latest drugstore favorite. "It truly gives your lashes a dramatic, wide-awake finish without clumping or smudging," he says. "The brush hits all angles of the lashes, too—you have the option of using the smaller side for separating every individual lash or the wider side for volume and thickness." One editor says: "The highest praise I can give a product is bringing it on a trip—because when that's the only option I have, it'd better do its job. And on a recent trip, the only mascara I stashed in my bag was L'Oreal Panorama. And I genuinely enjoyed every single minute of swiping it onto my lashes."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR $12.97 at only is this viral mascara from Maybelline ideal for lengthening, curling, and volumizing your lashes, but it also comes in more color options than you'll ever need. I'm talking three different shades of black, a pretty shade of maroon, and it even has some glitter finishes. My personal favorite is the brown, pictured above, and more on that below. One editor says: "As someone with pretty long lashes (sorry not to flex) I do need some help in the darkening department. I don't love a stark black mascara at all times, and Maybelline's Sky High Mascara makes my favorite brown shade for a defined yet natural lash."—JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR $12.99 at can't believe in the year 2025 there is a mascara that still clocks in at $5 a tube (and I'm def not complaining!). Essence's Lash Princess is a hero for making your lashes look long and full, but still defined and not clumpy whatsoever. Need more proof? More than 250,000+ five-star reviewers on Amazon agree. One editor says: "Out of all the affordable mascaras I've tried, Essence's def take the cake. Whether I want length, volume, a tint of brown, or literally anything else, I can snag an Essence mascara that gets the job done for less than $5."—JH $4.99 at your lashes to look natural and soft? Go for this tubing mascara, which helps A) separate every lash and B) coat them with this lightweight formula. It's basically the opposite of clumpy, according to Scibelli. "This one not only gives a dramatic finish in one coating, but it also nourishes the lashes with jojoba seed oil," he says. "I also like the feel of the flexible silicone brush which allows you to really zero in on those hard-to-get lashes." One editor says: I tested it myself (see the above image for proof) and was shocked by how fanned out my eyelashes looked with just one coat. It gave them a little bit of length and fluffiness without bulking on any clump to chunk 'em together. Instead, they're spread from inner to outer corner to perfection."—BG $7.00 at you want a mascara that will get you through any amount of tears, humidity, sweat, or whatever else might come your way, this O.G. formula from Covergirl. It's beloved by Cosmo editors and readers alike—so much so, that it won a Cosmo Readers' Choice Award for its iconic formula that adds tons of fullness. One editor says: "I've yet to use a waterproof mascara that holds up as well as Covergirl Lash Blast. It's a mainstay in my summer makeup bag every year (has been since–legit—2010). I can swipe it on, wait 10 minutes, then legit jump in a pool. My mascara will still look pristine, even after I rub at my eyes. It coats and defines my lashes to make me look more awake and bright-eyed on."—BG $9.44 at you're after big, bold, borderline-falsie-level lashes, this drugstore mascara brings the drama. The hourglass-shaped nylon brush loads up lashes with product for serious fullness, while still keeping them lifted and curled. One coat gives you a mix of length and volume, but it's that second layer where things really pop: thicker, darker, and more fanned-out lashes from root to tip. One editor says: In high school, I used to draw the tiniest wing at the outer corners of my eyes with a brow pencil as if my lashes were just so fluffy and heavy that they created a shadow. Of all the drugstore mascaras I've tried, this one gives me the biggest oomph. It makes my lashes look full and fluffy, but still holds a curl and keeps my lashes lifted all day. —BG $9.97 at you've got naturally long lashes that tend to fall flat with most mascaras, this one's about to change your routine. The curved wand grips and lifts every lash (even the tiny ones in the inner corner), while the lightweight formula adds volume without making them droop. It layers well, doesn't feel heavy, and actually helps hold and accentuates the editor says: 'I just started testing this mascara, but I've already raved about it to the dozens of people who've complimented my eyelashes while I was wearing it. Most mascaras make my lashes lose their curl fast, but this one holds them up all day—and still feels super lightweight, even with multiple coats.' —BG $7.70 at you're on a healthy lash journey, this multitasking mascara is great for nourishing the lashes as you wear it. It's filled with peptides and vegan collagen, which works to strengthen the lashes, as the mascara also works to visibly darken and lengthen lashes. One editor says: "If you're looking for a wearable drugstore mascara that's perfect for everyday, this new mascara from Covergirl is super lengthening and adds the ideal amount of definition to my eyes. It's not overly volumizing, but it simultaneously conditions and lengthens my lashes, which I love."—JH $12.99 at This is Madelyn Cline's favorite mascara. (I would know; I asked her.) And if you've ever seen her lashes, they look extra af in the best way possible. This mascara offers up some serious length and volume with one single coat. And if you want even more ~drama~, add a few extra layers to build it up. One editor says: "This drugstore mascara is great for darkening my light lashes. It's ideal for that eye-popping look (à la Madelyn Cline) and will take any blonde lash to a bold black."—BG $7.00 at you love the clean, lengthened finish of a tubing mascara, this one from Milani is a must-have in your rotation. The liquid-y formula wraps each lash in tiny tubes for major length and definition without the flakey or spidery finish that a lot of lengthening mascaras leave behind. Instead, it leaves the lashes looking naturally long, dark, and lifted—no flaking, no smudging, and no makeup remover needed (just rinse with warm water to take it off) One editor says: 'The first thing I noticed was how rich the black color was—it instantly made my lashes pop. As I kept layering it on, it gave me this crazy length and definition without the tarantula effect I usually get with lengthening mascaras. Like, it just looked like I was born with mile-long, jet-black lashes… despite being naturally blonde. It can clump a bit while applying, but I keep a lash comb nearby and that fixes it in two seconds.' —BG $12.97 at you're all about clean beauty products, you've probably got a stash of pricey makeup. However, Pacifica is my go-to clean drugstore makeup brand, and this mascara performs just as well as the $$$ options I've tried at Sephora. It's filled with softening and moisturizing jojoba oil and polyglycerides, plus a peptide to help strengthen the eyelashes as you wear it. One editor says: "No matter how many coats I layer on, this mascara never smudges or clumps on me. It's my go-to when I know I'll need to touch up my mascara at the end of the workday before heading to a dinner or event. One extra layer, and my lashes are practically revived."—BG $15.52 at name colossal definitely lives up to its expectations. This mascara defines every single lash (without clumping) while giving them a lifted and voluminous false-lash effect. The spiral brush reaches right down to the roots, helping your lashes stand up and appear longer and fuller from the base to tip. One editor says: "I've been team high-end mascara, but this single-handedly just brought me back into the drugstore game. Just look at my lashes!! And this is after eight hours of wear—no flakes, smudging, or drooping of my ultra-straight lashes. I mostly love how the wand makes it easy to separate my lashes after I've coated them with the formula by twisting it over to use like a lash comb."—BG $12.99 at tried a tubing mascara? If you have, then I'm willing to bet you're prob a convert. Luckily, there are hella drugstore formulas (I noted them all above) that'll save you money and time removing it at night. But if you prefer a more bold look, then you'll probably like a traditional formula over tubing, as these usually use a nylon-bristle brush, which can distribute more product. IMO, tubing mascara is great for length and definition, while regular non-tubing formulas are ideal for volume. Plus, you've also gotta decide if you're a waterproof person or nah. Waterproof mascaras are fab for reducing smudging, especially if you have oily eyelids or live in a hot, humid climate. And ofc, if you plan to swim or sweat in your mascara, waterproof comes in clutch. But some people don't love that they have to use a oil-based remover (like cleansing balm or cleansing oil) to take it off at night. In that case, choose a smudge-free regular mascara (I included a few picks above that didn't smudge on me). As noted above, the brush type will definitely enhance the type of look you're going for. Generally, there are nylon-bristle brushes and narrow, comb-like synthetic wands. "A fat and fluffy applicator will give you voluminous lashes," makeup artist Jenna Nicole has told Cosmo. Meanwhile, she says, "a long, skinny, more-precise wand will give you long, skinny, clump-free lashes." I've included a mix of brush types above, for reference, so it all depends on your lash style and ~vibes~. is a makeup artist based in New York, NY who works with celebrities and talent for TV interviews, press appointments, and more. Jenna Nicole is a Los Angeles-based celebrity makeup artist who has worked with Selena Gomez and Cassie Randolph. Nicole recently spoke to Cosmo about how to find the best Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with six years of experience researching, writing, and editing makeup stories that range from drugstore concealers to lip stains. She's an authority in all makeup categories, but is an expert when it comes to drugstore mascaras after testing dozens of formulas throughout her life, plus constantly asking experts for their recs. You Might Also Like Here's What NOT to Wear to a Wedding Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You'll Ever Try
Bloomberg
20-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
L'Oreal CEO on Impact of Tariffs and Makeup Market
Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L'Oreal, the world's largest cosmetics maker, says he has shipped more luxury goods ahead of the US tariffs, but remains a net exporter in the US as the group has 18 US brands in its portfolio. Speaking with Bloomberg's Francine Lacqua in London, Hieronimus also said he expects the makeup market to bounce back soon. (Source: Bloomberg)
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Alia Bhatt At Cannes 2025: Four Makeup Looks, One Iconic Debut
Alia Bhatt made her much-awaited debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Needless to say, the actress didn't just walk the red carpet - she owned it and how. Now, Alia has shared a picture dump from her Cannes outing, highlighting the various makeup looks she aced for her debut. First and foremost, Alia walked the Cannes red carpet in an ivory-hued Schiaparelli haute couture by Daniel Roseberry from the Maison's Spring/Summer 2025 collection. But it was her fresh and dewy makeup that caught our eyes. The actress went for a minimal makeup look with well-defined eyebrows, warm-toned eyeshadows and eyeliner that accentuated their shape. She wore slightly rosy lipstick, and classic kiss curls that framed her sleek hairdo. For her second look, Alia Bhatt went all retro and channelled her inner Audrey Hepburn in a yellow Gucci co-ord set. For makeup, she opted for subtle blush on the cheeks, feathered brows, glowing highlighter, voluminous lashes and a bold red lip to add a pop of colour to the yellow silhouette. Her hair was neatly tucked beneath the scarf. Alia Bhatt attended the Lights on Women's Worth event at Cannes in an Armani Privé creation. The navy blue off-shoulder dress was crystal-embellished to perfection with blue gemstones. The actress sealed this appearance with a no-makeup look sans bold lipstick or coloured tones in sight. Saving the best for last, Alia Bhatt stepped out in Gucci's interpretation of a saree for the Closing Ceremony. The lehenga-style drape was adorned with strategically placed Swarovski crystals. The deep neck blouse and the nude structured skirt had the brand's logo 'GG' placed all over the saree. A bold, dewy makeup and soft beachy waves completed her look with finesse. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt ???? (@aliaabhatt) Alia and her stylist, Rhea Kapoor, described the outfit as Gucci's modern interpretation of a saree, blending signature Italian glamour with Indian cultural elements. However, Gucci's official description omitted any reference to Indian attire, referring to it simply as a "custom Gucci gown with embroidered crystals in a GG Monogram pattern". This reclassification sparked widespread backlash, particularly among Indian fashion enthusiasts who felt the ensemble more closely resembled a lehenga choli or a saree-inspired look, rather than a traditional gown. The Cannes Film Festival concluded on May 24. Alia Bhatt attended Cannes as a Loreal brand ambassador, along with Cannes veteran Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
